George inks deal with the Crew

The Columbus Crew announced Thursday morning that the club has signed second round draft pick Kevan George. The Trinidad and Tobago native impressed the Crew front office throughout the team's training camp in February and early March.

"I am very delighted that Columbus has chosen to invest in me," the midfielder told TheCrew.com. "I know I have a future with (the Crew). I just want to progress for them."

George's combination of size and foot skill is an asset the Crew front office found intriguing.

"For (George's) size, people underestimate his ability with his feet," Crew technical director Brian Bliss said of the 22-year-old midfielder. "He has a physical presence, but he's got very good feet. He's able to wiggle out of trouble and find passes to break pressure and jumpstart an attack."

In four years at the University of Central Florida, George tallied six goals and 16 assists. George was also All-Conference USA three times during his four years as a Knight.

"He's a pretty good student of the game in terms of sitting in the hole and finding the areas where he needs to cut passes out and break up plays in front of the back four," Bliss continued.

Just as the ink dried on George's newly signed contract with the Black & Gold, the midfielder left Columbus to join the Trinidad and Tobago Under-23 National Team for CONCACAF qualifiying for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

"I was elated for the call-up," George expressed. "Getting to wear the red, white, and black jersey is an unreal moment for me."